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Table 4 Synthesis of CDs from small organic molecules via thermal decomposition, carbonization, pyrolysis, solvothermal, and ultrasonic treatment

From: Small molecules derived carbon dots: synthesis and applications in sensing, catalysis, imaging, and biomedicine

S. No.

Source

Method of preparation

Doping (d)/surface passivating (p) agent

Color

Size (nm)

Refs. No.

1.

Citric acid, N-(β-Aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyl methyl dimethoxy silane

Thermal decomposition

AEAPMS (P)

Blue

0.9

[82]

2.

Citric acid

Thermal decomposition

DETA (p)

Blue

3–5.5

[84]

3.

Citric acid

Thermal decomposition

Ruthenium (III)

Blue

6.8 ± 2.3

[85]

4.

Citric acid

Thermal decomposition

Blue

0.7–1.0

[34]

5.

l-Cysteine

Thermal decomposition

1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium bromide

Blue, yellow, red, green

1.0–3.5

[83]

6.

Citric acid

Thermal treatment

Dicyanamide (d)

Green

8–16

[86]

7.

Glucose

Carbonization

Ethylene diamine (d), phosphoric acid (p)

Green

1–7

[87]

8.

Citric acid

Carbonization

Blue

4.8–9

[88]

9.

6-O-(OO-dilauroyl-tartaryl)-d-glucose

Carbonization

Green

2.4 ± 0.5

[89]

10.

Tris base, betaine Hcl

Pyrolysis

Gadopetetic acid (d)

Purple, Green

3.2

[31]

11.

GDs

Pyrolysis

l-glutamic acid

Blue, green and red

4.66–1.24

[17]

12.

d-Glucose

Pyrolysis

l-Aspartic acid (d)

Yellow

2.28 ± 0.42

[90]

13.

Sodium alginate

Pyrolysis

Blue

< 10

[91]

14.

Citric acid

Pyrolysis

Diethylenetriamine (p)

Indigo

5–8

[11]

15.

CCl4, NaNH2

Solvothermal method

N (d)

Blue, cyan, kelly, and yellow

3.3

[36]

16.

SiCl4, hydroquinone

Solvothermal treatment

Si (d)

Blue

7 ± 2

[29]

17.

hydroquinone

Solvothermal method

BBr3 (d)

Blue

16

[15]

18.

Glucose, HCl/NaOH

Ultrasonic treatment

Blue

< 5

[30]

19.

Active carbon, H2O2

Ultrasonic treatment

Blue, green, yellow, red

5–10

[92]